Jan. 11 NWC Women’s Basketball Wrap (Stories provided by host SID)

At Whitworth 84, Lewis & Clark 59

Spokane, Wash. -- Defending Northwest Conference champion Whitworth College opened defense of its title in resounding fashion, running to an 84-59 win over visiting Lewis & Clark College in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Sunday night in the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

The 25th-ranked Pirates (9-1 overall, 1-0 NWC) started the game with a 9-0 run and never looked back. Whitworth stretched the lead to 28-8 and led 49-18 at halftime. Junior forward Sarah Shogren scored 20 of her 22 points in the first half.

Whitworth stretched the lead to 43 points (73-30) in the second half on a pair of free throws by junior forward Tiffany Speer. The Pioneers (3-7, 0-1) fought back over the final ten minutes of the game to pull within 23 (82-59).

In addition to Shogren's 22 points, Speer led all players with 29 points on 9 of 14 shooting from the field. She was also 11/11 from the free throw line. Micki DesMarais came off of the bench for eight points in only her third game back after overcoming illness in the fall.

Lindsay Sweetland scored 14 points off of the bench to lead L&C, while Cedra Fox scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half.

The game was played 48 hours later than originally scheduled because bad weather prevented Lewis & Clark from leaving Portland. The Pioneers will play at Whitman on Monday while Whitworth hosts Willamette.

At Whitman 48, Willamette 39

Walla Walla, Wash. -- The Whitman College women’s basketball team started out their Northwest Conference season with a win against visiting Willamette University 49-38

Sunday evening.  Whitman improved its overall record to 6-3 (1-0 NWC) while Willamette fell to 4-6 (0-1 NWC) on the season.

Whitman in the first half forced 15 turnovers and out shot Willamette 38-23 to go in at halftime with a 24-19 lead. Whitman gained some momentum going into halftime with a couple of three point shots from freshman Laura Vertatschitisch and Shea Morrissey in the final minutes.

Whitman’s intense defense carried over in the second half forcing another 11 turnovers, making a total of 26 turnovers for Willamette in the game. Whitman never relinquished the lead in the second half, cruising to the first conference victory of the season for the Lady Missionaries.

Sophomore Lizzy Washburn led the way for Whitman with a game high 15 points, junior Mandee Romero added 11 points for Whitman . Freshman Sarah Laird had a game high 10 rebounds to lead the way on the glass, while freshman Katie Patneaude came of the bench to add four points and eight rebounds.  Sophomore Meagan Higgins had a game high five assists and five steals.

For Willamette, Megan Scheelar had 10 poinbts and nine rebounds, while Deanna Lund had 11 points and seven rebounds for the visiting Bearcats.

Whitman will play host to Lewis and Clark Monday evening to conclude the opening of the Northwest Conference season.